Poll: Majority of Coloradans now favor full same-sex marriage

According to Public Policy Polling, 47 percent of those Coloradans polled said they believe gay and lesbian couples should have all the rights of marriage — and the name to boot. Forty-three percent said they oppose same-sex marriage.

Colorado's gay and lesbian community gathered at the west steps of the Capitol March 31 to rally for civil unions.

“The verdict is in. Poll after poll shows the same thing,” Brad Clark, executive director of statewide LGBT advocacy group One Colorado told Out Front Colorado today. “Everyday support for the full legal recognition of gay and lesbian couples grows as Colorado voters come to know our families.”

Coloradans were split the last time the polling firm asked the question in August.

Moreover, when you add civil unions as an option 76 percent believe same-sex couples should have some form of relationship recognition. Only 23 percent said same-sex couples should have no legal rights.

Broken down by party line: 87 percent of Democrats support relationship recognition, 80 percent of independents agree to at least civil unions and a majority of Republicans — 60 percent — also favor the same rights for same-sex couples as afforded to a heterosexual couple.

In a matter of weeks, state Sen. Pat Steadman, a gay Democrat, will re-introduce his bill to establish civil unions in Colorado. The bill died March 31 at a Republican controlled House Judiciary Committee after it had already been approved by the Senate with bipartisan support.